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A public elementary school in Washington, D.C., gave children as young as 4 a lesson on “anti-racism” that asked them to identify racist members of their family.
According to a Nov. 30 letter from Janney Elementary School Principal Danielle Singh, students in Pre-K through 3rd grade participated in an “Anti-Racism Fight Club” presentation by speaker Doyin Richards.
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“As part of this work, each student has a fist book to help continue the dialogue at school and home,” Singh’s letter stated, linking to Richards’ presentation. “We recognize that any time we engage topics such as race and equity, we may experience a variety of emotions. This is a normal part of the learning and growing process. As a school community we want to continue the dialogue with our students and understand this is just the beginning.”
Students listen to their teacher during their first day of transitional kindergarten class at Tustin Ranch Elementary School in Tustin, CA on Wednesday, August 11, 2021.
((Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Richards’ “Anti-Racism Fight Club Fistbook for Kids” explains that “white people are a part of a society that benefits them in almost every instance,” and that “it’s as if white people walk around with an invisible force field because they hold all of the power in America.”
“If you are a white person, white privilege is something you were born with and it simply means that your life is not more difficult due to the color of your skin,” the “Fistbook for Kids” explains. “Put differently, it’s not your fault for having white privilege, but it is your fault if you choose to ignore it.”
The “Fistbook for Kids” says anti-racism “isn’t a spectator sport” but requires “being loud, uncomfortable, confrontational and visible to ensure change is made.”
A series of questions in the book asks children, “Where do you see racism in yourself? This requires true soul-searching. Be real with yourself, don’t feel guilt/shame and own it. It’s the first step in becoming an anti-racist.”
Under a section titled, “How to deal with racism from loved ones,” the book teaches children that “just because someone is older than you doesn’t mean that they’re right all of the time.”
“If someone doesn’t believe that people should be treated equally based on the color of their skin, then they are the problem. Parents need to stop making excuses for that behavior if they truly believe in anti-racism,” the book says. “Who in your family has racist beliefs? Do you think you can change their ways? What is your strategy for dealing with them?”
After the presentation, the school sent parents a resource link directing them to Richards’ original “Anti-Racism Fight Club Fistbook” for adults, which declares that “racism is as American as apple pie and baseball.”
“As we sit here today, it is still woven into the fabric of our homes, communities, schools, government, economic system, healthcare, and so much more. As a matter of fact, it would be difficult to find one facet of our society where racism does not exist,” the book states. “White supremacy isn’t the shark, it’s the ocean.”
The original “Fistbook” also claims that “if the police don’t murder citizens without penalty, then the riots/looting don’t happen,” and that “your feelings about Colin Kaepernick serve as a great barometer of how you would feel about Dr. King” during the Civil Rights Movement.
“If you hate Kaepernick now, you’d hate Dr. King if he was alive today,” it argues. “And do you know what’s funny? In 50 years from now, white people will probably talk glowingly of Kaepernick as they are with Dr. King now. Stop using his quotes to benefit your racism.”
DC Public Schools told Fox News Digital in a statement that the original “Fistbook” was not shared with students.
“DC Public Schools provides joyful and rigorous academic experiences for our students and is committed to advancing educational equity,” the district said. “In December, a resource link with this content was shared in a parent newsletter at one of our schools. It is not part of our DCPS curriculum and was not shared with students,” the district said, referring to Richards’ guide for adults.
Commenters claiming to be parents at Janney Elementary complained about the Nov. 30 presentation and the “Fistbook for Kids” on the “DC Urban Moms and Dads” online forum.
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“Anyone else’s Kindergarten kid freaked out by an anti-racism assembly today? My kid needed to sleep with a light on and the door open tonight,” one person posted anonymously. “Anyone know what specifically was talked about? My kid couldn’t relay much except that she was scared.”
The district declined to answer Fox News Digital’s inquiry about the “Fistbook for Kids” and whether the Nov. 30 presentation for students ages 4-9 was mandatory.
